Chapter 237 : Slaying a First Grade
Chapter 237: Slaying a First Grade
Beside the surging Dan River, high in a tree, Xie Jianqiu hid himself, holding his breath as he watched the movements on the river, his gaze heavy.
Several wounds marred his body, his blood-soaked clothes making him appear rather battered.
Clearly, these were the injuries left from that earlier battle.
Originally, with his strength, dealing with a few Second and Third Grades would not have been difficult. Yet, he had been imprisoned for too long, his vitality damaged. Pursued all the way, injury upon injury piled up, leaving him with less than twenty percent of his strength. Only then had those few Second Grades managed to take advantage.
Xie Jianqiu had once followed the Sect Master of the Xingyue Sect and personally seen him quietly come to this place, leap into the water, and vanish.
At that time, he had suspected that inside Xingyue Cave there might be a secret passage leading directly here. However, even after searching underwater for a long time, he had found no entrance.
Thus, when he discovered that Jiang Yingxue and that woman imprisoned in the cage had been rescued, and that they went deeper toward the cave, he guessed she very likely intended to leave through the secret passage.
So, he decisively turned back, left Xingyue Cave, and came here to wait in ambush.
“Damn it, they even took that woman away.”
Xie Jianqiu wore an anxious expression, faint traces of fear in his eyes. If he did not take advantage of her current weakness to kill her, he would never know peace in the future.
In his hand, he tightly gripped an object. Its icy touch gave him a sliver of reassurance.
Fortunately, with this item in his grasp, that woman could not stir up any waves.
Just as he was thinking this, a man and a woman surfaced on the river. It was that slippery brat from the Six Doors Authority, along with the Jiang Family’s young girl who bore the “Azure Luan Physique.”
Joy surged in Xie Jianqiu’s heart, yet he did not rush out. The prey had appeared; there was no way it could escape. He continued to wait patiently.
But after a while, that woman still did not appear, making his impatience grow.
At this time, the Six Doors brat seemed to notice something and went to look for the heavily injured Second Grade officer from Six Doors.
He had long since noticed that grievously wounded old man. The elder’s injuries were so severe that death was imminent. Xie Jianqiu had not even bothered to finish him off, lest that woman discover his presence.
Yet, the first thing the old man croaked was: “Run—quick—”
When had that old ghost discovered him?
Anger welled in Xie Jianqiu’s heart. Knowing that the brat was slippery as an eel and might slip away again, he immediately locked onto his qi. He would capture him first, then force the woman’s whereabouts out of him.
With that thought, he no longer hid. Emerging from his concealment, in a few leaps he appeared before the boy.
In midair, he saw the boy make a strange gesture: one hand covering the dying elder’s eyes, the other pressing on his chest. With a burst of force, he shattered the man’s heart meridians. “Senior, rest assured. I will take good care of your granddaughter.”
Xie Jianqiu was baffled. Did this brat think he would torment the old man? Truly ridiculous.
At ease, he asked, “Boy, you actually aren’t running?”
But as soon as the words left his mouth, something felt wrong. The boy’s aura suddenly surged.
This was—
A breakthrough to Second Grade, at this moment?
Xie Jianqiu’s heart trembled. This youth looked so young, yet he was about to step into Second Grade? How was this possible?
Could it be that this child was a once-in-a-century genius?
He focused, then suddenly realized, “Ah, so it’s a disguise technique!”
In the blink of an eye, Chen Ming had successfully broken through to Second Grade.
Second Grade was different from Third Grade. What mattered most was the transformation of “Divine Will.” It relied on long accumulation, but the actual breakthrough happened in an instant. The surge of Gangyuan could also be completed in a short span.
Therefore, Xie Jianqiu had not struck to prevent it, for it was impossible to stop.
Besides, he had absolute confidence in his own strength.
He said in a deep voice, “Boy, from which sect do you hail? Speak, and if you share ties with this old man’s acquaintances, perhaps I will spare your life!”
Chen Ming gripped the hilt of the “Po Jun Sword.” “Capital’s Gu Family, Gu Xianyu. If Senior is willing to let us go, this junior can swear an oath never to reveal the matter of the Secret Realm.”
“The Capital’s Gu Family?”
A flicker of dread passed through Xie Jianqiu’s eyes. That was a pinnacle aristocratic family guarded by a Heaven-and-Man Realm powerhouse. Though the Gu Family’s ancestor was nearing the end of his life, his deterrent force was undiminished so long as he lived.
“This old man does indeed have some ties with one of your elders. Letting you leave is possible, but she cannot go. There is no room for negotiation.”
He pointed toward where Jiang Yingxue was hiding.
That girl bore the “Phoenix Physique.” If he harvested her, his wounds would recover by eighty percent, perhaps even advancing further.
Pity she was unwilling to become his dual cultivation partner. Otherwise, within months, he would have reached the peak of First Grade.
But now, his condition was dire. Even if it was like killing the goose for its eggs, he could no longer afford to hesitate. First heal his wounds, then talk.
Moreover, Du Rusong was due to emerge from the Secret Realm soon. That man was his true life-or-death enemy.
There was no time to waste!
Thinking thus, Xie Jianqiu said, “Gu Family youth, so long as you swear, you may leave.”
“Brother Gu—”
Jiang Yingxue stepped from her hiding place, looking at Chen Ming with tear-filled eyes, her lips trembling. “You… you must go… I told you, I will never drag you down… Go!”
Chen Ming glanced at her. Her face was pale, fear written all over, yet she forced herself to hold back tears and spoke bravely.
“Sigh.”
He let out a sudden sigh, feeling the surging Gangyuan in his body finally settle, his entire state reaching an unprecedented peak. “I had meant to let you live. Why must you insist on courting death?”
Those words were mere delay, only to reach his best condition.
If Xie Jianqiu had agreed, all would have been well. He did not particularly want to fight a wounded First Grade head-on.
But since the old man insisted on death, he could not be blamed.
“Heh!”
Fury turned to laughter. Xie Jianqiu realized the brat had underestimated him. “Very well, boy. Today I shall show you the gulf between First and Second Grade!”
His body blurred, vanishing from place.
In the next instant, he appeared before Chen Ming, throwing a punch.
To save Gangyuan, he opted for a swift end.
Though he had previously used sword qi, in truth, a First Grade’s strongest weapon was close combat.
One punch, and a Second Grade would die instantly.
“Hm?”
But his punch struck nothing.
The brat had shaken off his qi lock in an instant, disappearing as if into thin air.
“How can that be?”
This shock was no small matter. A First Grade’s divine sense far surpassed a Second Grade’s. Moreover, this brat had only just broken through. How strong could his divine sense be?
Did he perhaps possess some treasure?
As his thoughts raced, he once again caught the boy’s qi. “You cannot escape!”
Xie Jianqiu lunged again.
……
“Wah—”
Not far away, Jiang Yingxue heard Chen Ming’s words and finally broke. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed, crying aloud.
Her heart had been filled with terror: that Chen Ming would abandon her, that she would fall into that lecher’s hands, that…
She had no idea where her courage came from to say those words earlier.
“Chen Ming… wu wu wu… This time, you did not fail me… I, Jiang Yingxue… will never fail you in this life!”
At this moment, she swore in her heart. Then she forcefully wiped her tears, took out the sword Chen Ming had entrusted to her, and drew it.
Though only half a blade remained, it was enough.
She held it across her neck. Even before it touched her skin, a sharp sting spread.
Ugh, so painful.
“Don’t be afraid, Jiang Yingxue, be brave. Brother Chen dared to fight a First Grade for you. What do you have to fear?”
She forced herself to hold back tears, encouraging herself. “On the Road of Yellow Springs, I will have Brother Chen as company.”
“In a moment, strike decisively. One firm slash… I must not fall into that old thief’s hands to be defiled!”
As she thought this, she lifted her head, eyes wide, seeking the two combatants’ figures.
But she saw nothing.
She could only feel two terrifying auras, barely glimpsing shadows she could not discern.
This level of battle was beyond her comprehension.
No, she had to find a way to help him! Jiang Yingxue made up her mind.
……
“Damn it!”
The more Xie Jianqiu fought, the more shocked he became. That brat’s speed was no less than his.
No, it was greater.
If not for his divine sense vastly surpassing the boy’s, he would not even know where the brat was, forced into passivity.
Even now, things were not much better.
He could not land a hit, only wasting his strength.
Xie Jianqiu’s heart hardened. “Let’s see who can outlast whom!”
He believed the brat’s technique consumed even more. Once his Gangyuan was depleted, killing him would be effortless.
“Old thief, release Brother Chen, or I’ll die here and now!”
Suddenly, the girl’s voice rang out.
Xie Jianqiu swept his divine sense and saw her holding a broken sword to her neck. His heart jolted.
“I’ll count to three. Three, two…”
Hmph!
He snorted coldly. In the next second, he appeared at Jiang Yingxue’s side. With a pinch of his fingers, he clamped down on the broken sword, sneering inwardly. A mere Sixth Grade dared threaten him—
Not good!
Without warning, a wave of danger surged in his heart.
With a hiss, he felt a chill. The broken sword moved on its own, severing his fingers.
A peerless divine weapon?
His heart trembled. Seeing the sword fly toward his chest, he quickly dodged. But just then, his back went cold. A sword tip pierced through his chest.
“Ah—”
A shrill scream tore from his throat. The next second, sword light flashed, his head rolled from his neck, and blood gushed.
This First Grade expert had died an ignominious death.
He had never imagined that the girl’s broken sword was a peerless divine weapon. By foolishly trying to pinch it, he had doomed himself. Such weapons specialized in breaking protective Gangyuan.
Moreover, this sword had an owner. In dodging the weapon, he had neglected Chen Ming at his side, and so met his end.
【You have slain an LV97 enemy. You gained 2,000,000 experience points.】
Chen Ming blinked at the message, hardly believing it. Such a powerful First Grade had fallen to him.
“Brother Chen!”
At that moment, Jiang Yingxue flung herself into his arms, hugging him with all her strength and sobbing aloud.
This time, Chen Ming did not push her away.
Truth be told, she deserved thirty percent of the credit. If she had not feigned suicide, making Xie Jianqiu worry and attempt to seize the “Phoenix Cry Sword,” he could never have slain the First Grade so easily.
Even broken, the “Phoenix Cry Sword” still retained some spirit. With Ninth Layer “Controlling Artifact Art,” he could command it to make simple attacks.
Then, Chen Ming noticed something clutched tightly in Xie Jianqiu’s other hand. With a gesture, he drew it over.
It was a jade token, icy to the touch, its purpose unknown.
But since Xie Jianqiu had valued it so highly, grasping it even in battle, it had to be something important.
“Brother Gu, a fine display.”
Just then, a soft voice came from the side. Chen Ming spun and saw Nie Hongyi standing there, gazing at him with a strange look. “I was not wrong about you. You are even more outstanding than I thought. To break through mid-battle and slay a First Grade as a Second Grade!”
Chen Ming shielded Jiang Yingxue behind him, hiding the jade token in his hand, and said evenly, “Miss Nie’s methods are finer still—sitting on the mountain to watch the tigers fight. You had already guessed that old thief would be lurking here, hadn’t you?”
Nie Hongyi was silent for a few moments before saying, “To be honest, when I was young, my master planted a powerful restriction in my body. That old thief used it to control me. So, I had no choice but to guard against him. I hope Brother Gu will understand.”
“I see. Then it cannot be blamed on you, Miss Nie.”
A faint, insincere smile appeared on Chen Ming’s face.